The Federal Opposition has rejected a request from the Turnbull Government to allow 'pairing' of votes in the new Parliament, adding an extra degree of difficulty for the Government with a one-seat majority.

Key points:

Labor adamant on testing Government's one-seat majority

Christopher Pyne says pairing crucial for MPs during family emergencies

Tony Burke says pairing is unusual in Parliament

Pairing would see a Labor MP abstain from a vote in the House of Representatives, when a Government MP cannot attend for a vote.

Manager of Opposition Business Tony Burke told the ABC's PM program Labor would not allow the arrangement.

Mr Burke said Labor would test the Government's one-seat majority every time an MP was away.

"Malcolm Turnbull has told his own party room and told the Australian public he believes his government has a working majority in its own right," he said.

"He's said they've got a working majority, he's said this is not a problem, and so we'll hold him to his word."

Mr Burke's Government counterpart, Christopher Pyne, has labelled the move as "Dickensian".

Mr Pyne has called on Opposition Leader Bill Shorten to intervene, telling the ABC politicians should be able to have time off for illness if needed.

"In the situation where a member of parliament is ill or in hospital or has a family emergency, pairs have always been granted," he said.

"Labor is either acting out of a breathtaking ignorance or a malicious and mendacious approach to the Parliament."

It was later granted, though then Opposition chief whip Warren Entsch labelled the request "a stunt".

Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce conceded the incident with Ms Rowland had not been wise.

"If those decisions were made, then I think those decisions were also wrong, there you go," Mr Joyce told 7.30.

"So I don't think two wrongs are ever going to make a right, I think we have to be realistic and decent in how we operate."

Pairing only happens in hung parliament: Burke

Mr Burke said the only time a pairing arrangement had been in place was for the hung parliament under former Labor prime minister Julia Gillard.

He said it was not normal practise for a majority government.

"The House of Representatives normally doesn't have pairs, with the exception of a hung parliament," he said.

"That's the only time that's happened."

Mr Burke confirmed the Government would have to go without the vote of Foreign Minister Julie Bishop or Trade Minister Steve Ciobo even if they were required to be overseas for an important international meeting.

"If the Government is not as stable as the Prime Minister has claimed then he needs to fess up to the Australian people, not try to do some side deal with us," he said.

The new Parliament will sit for the first time in a fortnight, on August 30.